All-new Supra previewed at Vios Racing Festival

Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) brought its premier motorsports program back to its roots at the Clark International Speedway in Pampanga, with the staging of the Vios Racing Festival last June 8. It also became a surprise opportunity for car fans and motorsports enthusiasts to see the 2019 Toyota Supra in action.

Toyota Motor Philippines president Satoru Suzuki alights from the 2019 Toyota Supra.

The Vios Racing Festival saw veterans and new faces meeting from the tracks up to the podium, with celebrities, racing teams, and car club members, Toyota owners, and motoring media taking it pedal-to-the-metal in two exciting formats: Autocross Challenge and Circuit Championship. 

The Autocross Challenge is a timed competition wherein drivers navigate through an obstacle course one at a time; while the Circuit Championship is the classic format wherein all drivers are simultaneously competing against each other during laps – all using the One-Make Race (OMR) edition of the All-New Toyota Vios.

Pedal-to-the-metal action at the Vios Racing Festival

The OMR Vios racecar has been modified for optimum handling and performance given the two different racing formats. 

“Today, we witness the first leg of the Vios Circuit Championship. This event will be the first time that the All-New Vios One Make Race model is going to be tested at the circuit tracks since its appearance as the official pace car in Filinvest, Alabang last 2018. I hope that you are all as thrilled as I am to see the All-New Vios in action,” said TMP President Satoru Suzuki as he formally opened the competition.

Suzuki personally drove the highly-anticipated Supra on the speedway to the delight of the event attendees.

“As our way of saying ‘thank you’ for coming all the way here at the Clark International Speedway, I am very honored to announce that you are now among the first in Southeast Asia to see the 2019 Toyota Supra in the metal,” shared Suzuki.

This year, there are three categories for the Vios Circuit Championship: Sporting Class Promotional Class, and Celebrity Class – participated in by a total of 22 racers.

For the Celebrity Class, fans and spectators saw Vios endorser Gerald Anderson racing with Chie Filomeno, Gretchen Ho, Daniel Matsunaga, Aubrey Miles, and Troy Montero. Former celebrity racer Fabio Ide advanced to the Promotional Class.

For the Autocross Challenge, Toyota continued its push for a more inclusive and accessible motorsports program by inviting Toyota owners – even those with no prior racing experience – to join the online contest via its official Facebook account. Winners were given a chance to be part of more than 50 Autocross racers who experienced the power and performance of the OMR Vios race car.

And just like Toyota’s past racing programs, the Vios Racing Festival is open to everyone who wants to watch the races and join the side activities – with no admission fees.

Here’s the list of winners from the Vios Racing Festival Autocross Challenge and Circuit Championship races:

AUTOCROSS CHALLENGE

Car Club/ Vios Owners Class
RankNameOfficial Time
1Carlos Iñigo Anton00:49.99
2Mickie Carbonel00:52.65
3Alexis Lavapie00:53.02
Influencers Class
RankNameOfficial Time
1Vince Vandorpe00:54.49
2Phytos Ramirez00:56.83
3Reph Bangsil00:57.06
Media Class
RankNameOfficial Time
1Jose Luis Altoveros (Autoindustriya)00:53.05
2Jeff Soberon (MPTurbo)00:54.05
3Matt Mallari (STV)00:55.15

CIRCUIT CHAMPIONSHIP RACE 1

Celebrity Class
RankNameTeam
1Daniel MatsunagaToyota Motor Philippines
2Aubrey MilesToyota Motor Philippines
3Gretchen HoToyota Motor Philippines
Promotional Class
RankNameTeam
1Francis
Adriano
Obengers / Toyota San Jose
Del Monte
2Julian TangObengers / Toyota Otis
3Elysse MenorcaObengers / Toyota North EDSA
Sporting Class
RankNameTeam
1John DizonObengers / Toyota Marilao
2Gel NapatTeam Biskeg / Toyota Dagupan
3Red DiwaGrowl Thule Racing

CIRCUIT CHAMPIONSHIP RACE 2

Celebrity Class
RankNameTeam
1Troy MonteroToyota Motor Philippines
2Gretchen HoToyota Motor Philippines
3Daniel MatsunagaToyota Motor Philippines
Promotional Class
RankNameTeam
1Francis
Adriano
Obengers / Toyota San Jose Del Monte
2Julian NeriToyota Cebu
3Fabio IdeToyota Motor Philippines
Sporting Class
RankNameTeam
1Eggy OngJBT Racing / Toyota San Fernando
2Red DiwaGrowl Thule Racing
3Lord SenoToyota Cebu

CIRCUIT CHAMPIONSHIP RACE 3

Celebrity Class
RankNameTeam
1Troy MonteroToyota Motor Philippines
2Gretchen HoToyota Motor Philippines
3Aubrey MilesToyota Motor Philippines
Promotional Class
RankNameTeam
1Julian TangObengers / Toyota Otis
2Elysse
Menorca
Obengers / Toyota North EDSA
3Francis
Adriano
Obengers / Toyota San Jose Del Monte
Sporting Class
RankNameTeam
1Lord SenoToyota Cebu
2John DizonObengers / Toyota Marilao
3Gel NapatTeam Biskeg / Toyota Dagupan

The Toyota Vios Racing Festival is held in cooperation with Bridgestone; supported by Petron, Motul, and Rota; and other sponsors Brembo, Denso, AVT, 3M, OMP, and Tuason Racing. TMP’s premiere motorsports program is also supported by: Toyota Gazoo Racing, Toyota Racing School, and Toyota Racing Development.

The Vios Racing Festival will return to the Clark International Speedway for the second and third leg of the Circuit Championship in August and November respectively.

For more updates on Toyota events, visit TMP’s official website at www.toyota.com.ph and follow the official Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ToyotaMotorPhilippines.

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